Belt and slat fastener



(N0 Model.)

M. L. AKERS.

BELT AND SLAT FASTENER. No. 592,578. I Patented Oct. 26,1897.

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MAURICE LEONARD AKERS, OF GOOSEBERRY, OREGON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- FOURTII TO ROGER MONTGOMERY, OF IIARDMAN, OREGON.

BELT AND SLAT FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,578, dated October 26, 1897. Application filed March 27, 1897. Serial No- 829,595. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAURICE LEONARD AKERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gooseberry, in the county of Morrow and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Belt and Slat Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

My invent-ion relates to clamps or fasteners for securing the slats to the endless carrier belts or drapers used in harvesters, headers, self-binders, and other machines which employ such carriers.

The objects of my invention are to produce a fastener that is readily adjusted in place without extra tools, is firm and not liable to tear out, for the reason that it embraces a large portion of the belt that keeps the slat in alinement, distributes the load through the whole end section of the slat, and not merely through half of .it, as in the case of rivets, wears down with the slat, so as to hold the same until entirely worn out, and which permits the quick removal of a broken slat and substitution of a new slat therefor.

\Vith these and other objects in View my invention consists of the novel arrangement and combination of parts, as hereinafter specified by description and claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a fragment of a carrier, showing my clamp-fastener in use. Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof on lineX X. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the fastener. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank before it is struck up.

Referring now to the details of construction by numerals, 1 designates the blank of steel, iron, brass, copper, or other malleable sheet metal, preferably about three sixtyfourths of an inch thick. This blank is cut and struck up by one or two blows into the form shown in Fig. 3.

Depending from each corner of the plane rectangular body 2 is a wedge-shaped prong 3. These prongs stand perpendicular to the body portion and are brought down with converging sides to a sharp point 4. The point 4 is adapted to enter a slit provided therefor in a thick leather belt 5, or to be forced through a thin leather belt or a canvas web, and then bent over flat against or into the under surface of such belt or web. The four prongs are bent toward each other on the belt at their outer ends, as at 6, so as to support each other against twisting or pulling strains on the fastener.

The portion of the blank between the prong 3 is bent upward to form two clamping-jaws 7, one on either side of the body. These jaws 7 converge and terminate flush with the upper face of the slat S, which is oppositely bev- 6o eled at its ends and which is tightly embraced by the jaws. Small triangular tongues or barbs are struck up from the inner face of each jaw. There are preferably two of these barbs at each jaw bent in from the opposite ends contiguous thereto and arranged to be embedded in the slat when the jaws are bent upward against the same in applying the device to the slat, and the barbs securely hold the slat in place.

The manner of using my improved fastening-clamp is to insert the four prongs 3 through the belt 5 and bend them over sharply toward each other. The slat S is then adj usted transversely to the belt and between 7 5 jaws 7, and the barbs 9 are driven into the edges of the slat until the jaws rest in intimate facial gripping contact with said edges.

As the slats wear away the jaws at their upper edges also wear away correspondingly, leaving no rough end or bur protruding, as

in the case of the ordinary rivet fastening.

If a slat breaks, there is no necessity top rocure a cold-chisel to cut off the end, as in the case of the rivet, but the jaws are simply forced apart and the broken slat removed, and then the same fastener is clamped against the new slat without removing it at all from the belt.

WVhat I claim is-- 0 1. In a carrier-belt, the combination with a belt and slat, of a metallic fastener secured to said belt and having a jaw extending upwardly on each edge of said slat to hold the samein clamped relation, each jaw terminating flush with the upper surface of said slat, substantially as described.

2. In a carrier-belt, the combination with the belt and slat transverse thereon, of a fastener comprising a flat rectangular body portion interposed between said belt and slat and provided at each corner with a depending prong'adapted-to pass through the belt and be bent over on the same -and also provided with upwardly extending jaws arranged to grasp the slat on each side to clamp the same in position, substantially as de-' converging and being each provided with one or more inturned barbs, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 15 my own I have hereto affiXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MAURICE LEONARD AKERS.

WVitnesses: J. W. MORROW, G. MCREA. 

